Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1887-04-08
NO. 81
A Squaw's Slave.

LuOudIiuk CillLcu VIII EcCdlI lOE Ills
entertainmentsthe pet local reminis.
cence of Sy brant Quackenboos's terri
bic ordeal and strange experiences
during the French and Indian war.
As there is not in the whole history
of the American colonies recorded
incident of the trials and sufferings
of the inhabitants possessing more
peculiar interest than this unrecorded
incident so dear to Washington coun-
ty, no stranger ever yet regarded his
time as wasted who listened to it's
recital. 1t was told to the writer on
a recent visit to Sandy Hill, and runs
as follows:
Sybrant Quackenboss was the son
of one Of Albany's early Dutch resi-
dents, and was born in that city. In
I-l750, on the day he was to marry a
young lady of Albany, he was i'm
peessed into the colonial service as
teamster, and was put in charge of
load OF provisions, which was to be
sent to Fort William Henry from AL
bany. Lieutenant McGinniss of the
colonial army, with number of New
Hampshire militia. accompanied Sy-
b'aat as escort. While passing
through the then unbroken forest at
the great bend of the Hudson, near
the present village of Sandy Hill, they
were attacked by band of indians,
said to be under the command of the
notorious and fendish Marin. The
little party of colonists, taken in am
bush, were soon overpowered. Three
of them were killed. The others
were made prisoners. The captives
were securely bound with thongs and
taken to an Indian camp The viii
lage green in Sandy Hill now occu-
pies the site Of that camp. The pris-
oners were seated in row on the
trunk of a fallen pine tree.
A pow-wOw was held by the Indi-
ans which resulted in the savages
forming circle around the unfortu-
nate whites. A stalwart brave STEP
ped from the circle, and, starting at
the head of the row Of prisoners, sank
his tomahawk in their brains, one af-
ter another, until none remained but
Lieut.. McGinnissIand Sybrant Quack-
enboss. They sat side by side at the
foot of the row. None of the nine
prisoners who had fallen dead be-
meath the savage blow of the Indian
had offered any resistance. and when
be raised his tomahawk above the
head of Lieutenant McGinniss, the
latter threw himself backward from
the log, at the same time planting his
feet in tie stomach of the execution
er, and sent him flying several feet
away. Although this sudden and un-
expected movement on the part of
the lieutenant disabled the red butch
er, it only made his own end the more
horrible, for as. he lay bound upon
the ground dozen Indians sprang
upon him and chopped him to pieces.
Quackenboss, who bad sat help
less and Mortified victim to the butch
cry of his comrades, now closed his
eyes to receive his death blow from
the tomahawks that were held over
his head by the now infuriated In
dians, but before one of them fell he
was knocked from the log by some
thing heavy falling against him, and
opening his eyes he saw the hideous
face of squaw, who interposed be-
tween him and the poised weapon. 1t
was repetition of the Pocahontas
episode, but lacking every element of
its romance, for the squaw, being
dirty and fendish in appearance, had
interfered in his behalf simply because
she wanted him spared to become her
dog, or beast of burden. After much
parleying the squaw's request was
granted, and Sybrant was handed
over to her, fate, as he afterward re-
marked, that he thought but little
better than that of his comrades.
The Indians soon afterward broke
camp and took the trail. Quacken:
boss was laden with the burden of the
band which would have fallen to the
lot Of the squaw whose foresight had
stood her in such good need, while
she walked by his side, goading him
with a spear whenever he faltered,
and showing him no mercy. They
reached the shores of Lake Cham
plain, where they embarked in canoes.
At the foot of the lake there was an
Indian village, and there Sybrant was
compelled to run the gauntlet. He
was nearly killed by the clubs of the
two lines of Indians, and was again
placed in possession of the squaw.
She doctored his wounds until he was
entirely we'll. The Indians went to
Canada, where they were bound to
report the possession of their prisoner
to the authorities. The governor of
Canada took an interest in Quacken-
boss, purchased him from his Indian
mistress, and took him to Montreal.
He was kept in the domestic service
of the governor for three years, when
the latter gave him permission to send
word to his parents that he was alive
but to have the message delivered
was difficult matter. 1t was finally
decided to send an Indian to carry
letter addressed to Quackenboss's
father, as near Fort Edward as he
dare approach, and to then place it in
split stick and set the stick in spot
where thessparties coming from the
fort would be e-likely to see it. This
was done, The letter was found and
forwarded to its address, as the son
learned when he got his liberty three
years later and returned to Albany.
Although his afianced had long
mourned him as one dead, she had re-
NAMED faithful to him, and the we'd
ding ceremonies so suddenly inter-
rupted six years before were perform
ed amid great rejoicing. Quacken-
boss soon afterward removed to Wash
ington county, where he died in 1920,
aged 95 years. His grave is neglect
ed, and movement to erect a suit
able monument to his memory, which
was started few years ago. seems
to meet with little response from the
people who love to tell his story.
If angels visits were as expen-
sive as those of doctors we should be
glad that that they are so few and far
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